“Stormy Times” Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E)
November 52009
Recorded in Miami in 1969, this is a rare look at the band. Notice no drum kit. The seeds of Pacific Gas & Electric were sown in Los Angeles back in 1966 when self-taught guitarist Tom Marshall formed Bluesberry Jam, whose ranks included drummer Charlie Allen. Allen turned out to be such a fine vocalist that he ended up becoming the frontman; his drum chair was filled by Adolfo de la Parra in 1968. Later that year, de La Parra left to join Canned Heat, replacing Frank Cook who then joined Bluesberry Jam. After adding guitarist Glenn Schwartz and bassist Brent Block later in 1968, the group changed their name to Pacific Gas & Electric.Their first album, Get It On, was released by Kent in 1968, but failed to make much of an impact. However, following their appearance at the Miami Pop Festival in late 1968, Pacific Gas & Electric signed with Columbia, who released Pacific Gas & Electric in 1969. Their next album, Are You Ready, supplied their first hit, the title track, which made it into the Top 20 in the summer of 1970. Despite this success, all the bandmembers left, forcing Charlie Allen to build a new Pacific Gas & Electric around him. Enter guitarist Ken Utterback, bassist Frank Petricca, Ron Woods on drums, Jerry Aiello on keyboards, trumpet player Stanley Abernathy, sax players Alfred Gallegos and Virgil Gonsalves, and percussionist Joe Lala. Around this time, the Pacific Gas & Electric Utility Company asked the band to change their name, which was shortened to PG&E, also the title of their 1971 album. They also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon starring Liza Minnelli.After 1972 or so, PG&E basically turned into a solo Charlie Allen vehicle. They released Starring Charlie Allen on Dunhill in 1973, then called it quits.
Duration : 0:2:54
[youtube WdtLhnL1cXY]
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
You showed up down …
You showed up down here for some good ones bet more than a few.
No I didn’t I’ll goggle it & check it out,
Couldn’t see going cross country to see the first one with all the bands that either lived in or had been coming to play in SF for years. Both times?
WL didn’t twice that I know of.
Other one The Deads before the break when they made the movie?
Was there then.That was fun!
Or some other one?
Last Last night was on the radio
where I was at another party.
John Cip w/ that night?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Lived in Seattle …
Lived in Seattle all my life, been a deadhead for 40 years. Do you know about 40th Woodstock anniversary in Winthrop,WA on August 21st and 22nd? I was at opening weekend of the ‘Family Dog’ and the last 5 nights at Winterland both times.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
I saw that same …
I saw that same show. I don’t know about PG&E haven’t heard anything about them.
I sure liked them. Another show w/ them when they really tore it up was Avalon Flying BBro’s & The Dead.
You must be SF Bay Homie..:)
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Saw them one time …
Saw them one time with the Byrds and Joe Cocker at FM. Are they still around?
Ron from Seattle
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Saw them quite a …
Saw them quite a bit in SF during the Fillmore Avalon days-Always dug PG & E.
Great to see this-Thanks
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
You’ve got a good …
You’ve got a good ear! Listen and absorb as much as you can, while you can.
Glenn Schwartz’s one of the last true masters of american electric blues rock guitar… and also is a man who serves The Lord.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
it’s spelled “bass” …
it’s spelled “bass”
not “base”
But that’s pretty cool!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
I knew all the guys …
I knew all the guys in the band. I used to buy Charlie cigarettes, Think he smoked Winstons. I read somewhere that Frank Cook, the drummer was in a bad car accident. Does anybody know what he is doing today? He had told me he was going to retire—I forget what he wanted to do. And whatever happend to Tom Marshall and Brent Block? I had heard how Charlie died but forgot—he was ill. It was a shock when I learned it. My favorite song was “Wade in the Water”.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
How did charlie …
How did charlie Allen die?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Está muy bueno el …
Está muy bueno el tema, donde lo puedo encontrar en DVD?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
is that Glenn …
is that Glenn Schwartz?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Zat a mellotron …
Zat a mellotron with drum tapes?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Very true! Glenn …
Very true! Glenn Schwartz was miles ahead of many of his peers in this era. Kenny U. is a of a great guy, but Glenn was one of a blues player!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Skoop Hes fa real! …
Skoop Hes fa real! I drive from Akron once a month to see him. You gotta sneek in to Hooples. Where a fake mustache or somthing, because he may not be here when your legal.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Dude Glenn Schwartz …
Dude Glenn Schwartz is the crazyest guy ive ever met but prob. the greatest guitarst ive ever seen! im only 14 and he now lives in cleveland with his brother Gene. He plays every thursday night at a bar called The Hoople but im not 21 so i cant get in. But about every month he plays at a little consert hall called the Beachland Ballroom so i go and see him when ever i can. hes amazing!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
THE BASE GUY IS MY …
THE BASE GUY IS MY STAGE BAND TEACHER.. lmfaoo talia?
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
THE BASE GUY IS MY …
THE BASE GUY IS MY GUITAR TEACHER!!!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
A twelve-pack,a …
A twelve-pack,a stick of Haze hybrid,and the
GET IT ON lp…I’m ROCKIN’OUT!!!
Great music right here people…DIG IT!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Charlie Allen asked …
Charlie Allen asked to bum a cigarette from me and my friend in the lobby after the PG&E/Jefferson Airplane show in Cleveland,Oh-1969…we were 15 y.o. kids waiting for my mom to pick us up…lol…TRUE !!!…we thought it was pretty cool anyway…
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
I saw them in 70 or …
I saw them in 70 or 71 after Glenn had left and they were sort of dissapointing.Still decent and rocked pretty good but nothing like the original . Charlie Allen was quite the showman. Don Mcclean (Yawn) was the opening act. By the way Glenn was the original guitarist in the James Gang before Walsh. Thanks for this post.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
You are kidding!?! …
You are kidding!?! Glenn Schwartz was miles ahead of Utterback and most other guitarist at that time. Glenn was one of the best guitarist I ever saw and I saw him a lot in the late 60s.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Where is Kenny …
Where is Kenny Utterback? I want to see a PG&E video with the REAL guitarist!!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
It’s an Epiphone …
It’s an Epiphone Sheraton, actually
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Epiphone Sheraton, …
Epiphone Sheraton, actually
November 5th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Get your facts …
Get your facts straight.